A good excuse to repost my favorite Golden Eagle photo.
1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
As of three days ago when Governor Cox signed the bill into law, Utah has an official State Bird of Prey, the Golden Eagle. In my view there were many qualified candidates including various species of hawks, falcons and owls but for lots of reasons I think the Golden Eagle was a fine choice.
The Utah Legislature certainly could have done worse and they have in the past. For reasons unique to Utah our State Bird is the California Gull, a bird named after another state. In the official list of Utah State Symbols they didn’t even get the name right, calling it the California Seagull rather than its proper name, California Gull. The vast majority of our legislators (89 of 103 in 2021) are Mormons, who these days have a mini hissy fit when they’re referred to as “Mormons” rather than “Latter-day Saints”, which is now the officially preferred name. I guess it’s only important to get the name right when it’s yours.
If you ask me the Utah Legislature has made some pretty weird choices when it comes to its State Symbols. In a nod to special interest groups and an environment-destroying industry our State Rock is… Coal. We have a State Cooking Pot named after another country – Dutch Oven, a State Railroad Museum (what’s with that?) – Ogden Union Station and a State Firearm – the John M. Browning designed M1911 automatic pistol.
But keep in mind, this is the same Utah Legislature that yesterday overrode Governor Cox’s veto of the transgender athletes sports ban. When it comes to the Utah Legislature, the bar is low.
To end on a more positive note, in 2019 the Gila Monster became our official State Reptile and the Brine Shrimp has been proposed as our State Crustacean. Perhaps that latter choice will provide some much-needed momentum in the effort to save the Great Salt Lake.
Ron
Hi Ron,
I was interested in your blog contents for a number of reasons.
Suffice to say it reminded me that my home state of South Australia has a non-existent species as its bird emblem. Here is the background to it
‘The image on the South Australian flag is a stylised image of a Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicens). Although gazetted by the S. A. government in 1904 it be known as a Piping Shrike there is no such actual bird. The Piping Shrike is often associated with and called by many who have grown up in Adelaide, Murray Magpie, Pee Wee and Mud Lark which are a different species to the Australian Magpie’
Back in the 1970’s the South Australian Ornithological Society, of whom I was a member, petitioned the then-government to correct the situation, but to no avail.
Beaurocracies work in mysterious ways..
That’s an interesting story, Gary. And yes, beaurocracies work (or don’t work) in mysterious ways.
Interesting! And the comments have been educational.
Thanks, Arwen.
Love your state raptor. Am scratching my head at a LOT of the rest. State weapon? Shudder.
“State weapon? Shudder.”
That’s Utah for you, EC. John M. Browning was a Utahn so that gave them the opening to make a point about so called gun rights.
The John M Browning story is actually very interesting.
I agree April, it is. Several years ago I read quite a bit about his history in Ogden. A fascinating fellow in many ways.
But having a State Firearm is way over the top if you ask me. What’s next, a State Chemical Weapon? After all, we have Dugway…
Funny your blog is on a state symbol theme. On the way to taking Eric to work this morning we were behind a Tennessee vehicle and the plate had Volunteer State. I laughed at the time and asked Eric if they had volunteered to be a state, but I did come home and look it up. It was from the 1,500 volunteer troops who fought the British in the War of 1812. The official nickname was adopted in 2020.
April, some of those State Names are hard to figure out. Tennessee’s is one I knew about.
As a truly educational blog I had to Google why the state picked the California Gull in the past… “commemoration of the fact that these gulls saved the people of the State by eating up hordes of crickets which were destroying the crops in 1848″… so this means no more crickets as pests? Very interesting as usual. Thanks for this post.
“so this means no more crickets as pests?”
Elmer, Wikipedia has a very interesting article regarding your question and the so called “Miracle of the Gulls”, especially when comparing the traditional story to the historical review.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_of_the_gulls
LMAO! SO typical of how these myths grow and what really happened in many places….. 😉
Ron, thank you for the link. Religion/politics/bias can play tricks on a person’s mind. It reminds me of Alexander Pope’s “‘Tis education forms the common mind; just as the twig is bent the tree’s inclined.” Thanks for the education!
Great photo. Seems like some might not like you straying away from nature but you will find me in 100% agreement with all you said. I was surprised to learn you had a state firearm. Having state symbols is fine but not for a weapon. We had a proposal here in Oregon awhile back to change the state bird from Western Meadowlark to Osprey. Fortunately, that failed. I like Ospreys but they don’t really represent the state as they are not found in all parts of the state and are not here all winter.
Thanks, Dan.
In Utah religion, politics and “nature” are so intertwined it’s usually impossible to avoid one when talking about another.
I think this is the only time I have been disappointed by something that you wrote, Ron. I don’t feel it very appropriate or kind to include negative comments about the “Mormons.” There is a very good reason for the Church wanting to be called by it’s true name and the hope is that eventually others will accept and use and be respectful of it as well.
“I don’t feel it very appropriate or kind to include negative comments about the “Mormons.” ”
Sorry you feel that way, Marya. But I’m not much of one for sacred cows.
I have no problem with “the Church” wanting to be called whatever they want to be called, even though it’s now something different from “Mormon” which is the name church leaders have called themselves since the 1840’s. After all, it was church leaders who came up with names like Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
But I reserve every right to be critical when folks are inconsistent with their naming standards, such as officially and consistently calling the California Gull by an incorrect name. Especially when those same folks are such sticklers about their own name.
Sacred cows???
I find it interesting that you feel it’s okay to be critical of others just because someone has made a mistake in the naming of a bird. I’m all for calling birds by their correct names, I’m well known for telling people there is no such thing as a “Seagull”… but really?
Since it bothers you so much, it seems like you would be the ideal person to let someone know of the inconsistency and help get the mistakes corrected.
“Sacred cows???”
Yes, sacred cows – “an idea, custom, or institution held, especially unreasonably, to be above criticism”
OK, we’re getting nowhere. Let’s just agree to disagree.
I have never heard that term before.
So yes, we will agree to disagree.
But I still think you’re a great candidate to make the corrections happen! 🙂
And, for the record, I really do love all your bird photos…and most of the commentary. 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to share them with all of us.
And thank you Marya, for ending our discussion on a positive note.
Ron,
I have some strong opinions on your post that are best left un-said, except: nice picture.
Best,
Stephen
Stephen, Well then, I’m glad you like the picture.
I will marvel at the bird and your photographs of them. Not so much the political bombast.
“Not so much the political bombast.”
Call it what you like, Lyle. In Utah, politics (and religion) are woven into pretty much everything.
The Golden Eagle is a good choice for your state bird of prey. Arizona’s state bird is of course the Cactus Wren, but we don’t appear to have a state bird of prey. Nice photo of your Golden. The state definitely needs to change their state bird to something other than the California Gull. That is embarrassing. Reading an excellent historical book about our Bald Eagles. Way back farmers and ranchers and others often shot the juvenile and immature Balds thinking they were Goldens. Many back in our early days thought Goldens and even sometimes Balds carried off lambs and sheep and even children and considered them a serious danger.
That’s some sad history you describe regarding eagles, Everett.
I don’t know if you’re aware of the reason the California Gull is the state bird of Utah, but it is a very important part of Utah history. It’s not embarrassing, it’s just unfortunate that it happened to have the name California in it.
Marya, I don’t know if you’re referring to Everett or to me but I was raised LDS and I’ve lived in UT for over 50 years so of course I’m aware.
(On rereading I believe you were referring to Everett.)
How much of it is “history” and how much is myth is another question. See my response to Elmer above and follow the link.
Yes, I was referring to what Everett said. I knew that you would know the history. I guess I clicked on the wrong Reply button. It kind of sounded like he didn’t know the reason Utah would choose the California Gull as it’s state bird and thought it was embarrassing. I thought he should know there was a good explanation for it.
Nope, you hit the right reply button. I just made the wrong assumption when I first read your comment.
ALWAYS up for a Golden Eagle photo.
The rest of the political BS is everywhere as I’m sure you’re aware. Of course, the Western Meadowlark for MT isn’t exactly appropriate being a part time resident…… Even tho they are far from my favorite the Magpie would have been a more “appropriate” choice……. 😉
Sounds to me like the Mormons think having “Saint’s” in their name will help their image….. 😉
I’ve always wondered about the “Saints” part of their name, Judy. And some of my family was Mormon.
I’m aware of that – not something you’ve hidden and, a big “so what” for me. In the past few years a cousin we didn’t know existed “found us” who is Mormon. She was not raised in it and, tho strong in her faith, isn’t interested in inflicting it on others and has a sense of humor about some of it – a truely delightful soul! 🙂
Because the Golden Eagle population is declining, I think this is an excellent choice. It may bring attention to the GE’s plight, and possibly support over time that might otherwise not be there. That would be a good thing.
Good point, Nancy.
Great! Illinois state bird – Northern Cardinal.
Cindy, Western Meadowlark and Northern Cardinal are the two most used state birds.
Gorgeous shot!!
Thanks, Dick.
Can’t be as strange as the Colorado State Bird – the Lark Bunting. This bird is a resident of the state for only the breeding season in the summer. The joke is that the legislature made it the state bird because it was just a black bird with some white – it was cheaper to print images of it. My vote would have gone to the White-tailed Ptarmigan which only inhabit areas above 10,000 feet. 😳
I agree with what would have been your choice, Mark. And I like the “joke”.
It certainly is a very appropriate choice of State Bird. Now I need to find out why Connecticut is called the “Nutmeg State.”
Kenneth, this from the Connecticut State Library:
” “The sobriquet, the Nutmeg State, is applied to Connecticut because its early inhabitants had the reputation of being so ingenious and shrewd that they were able to make and sell wooden nutmegs.”
I guess they’re proud of such a thing.
Thank you for reposting this gorgeous shot of one of my three favorite birds!
I’m still not sure about your legislature — I feel like their “good” decisions are far less probable than mere chance. I was hopeful after Cox’s veto, especially given his comments about keeping kids safe, but I should have known better. 🙁
“I should have known better.”
Marty, with our legislature that’s a given.